Menendez' bill could have aided donor's investment

STEPHEN BRAUN
Associated PressPublished: March 4, 2013 3:00PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An Associated Press investigation has found that New Jersey's Sen. Robert Menendez sponsored legislation with incentives for natural gas vehicle conversions that could benefit the biggest donor to his re-election.

The CEO and a former consultant to GFS Corp. say that Dr. Salomon Melgen invested in the Florida company, which helps industries convert diesel fuel-fleets to natural gas, and joined its board of directors in early 2010.

At the same time, Menendez emerged as a principal Democratic supporter of legislation to boost tax credits to truck and vehicle fleets that converted to alternative fuels. The bill has yet to pass.